Davis: Coming up on "Studio 3 LIVE," it's Andrew Hoyt.

♪ She's a sunset on the shoreline ♪ ♪ She's a Mai Tai in my hand ♪ And I feel like in life we have the safe route, we have the risky route.

And I felt like the safe route just was too boring.

It just was not fitting what I wanted to see in 30 years.

♪ A good time with no end ♪ ♪ She's my kind of paradise ♪ ♪ And now we're doing it right ♪ ♪ Living on island time ♪ Davis: Funding for "Studio 3 LIVE" is provided by... Announcer: Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, where employees from over 20 countries speak over 20 languages, is committed to enriching the lives of all Iowans by funding strong communities and diverse cultural organizations.

Learn more at prairiemeadows.com.

Announcer #2: Funding for this program was provided by Friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of families and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.

[ Cheers and applause ] Good evening, and welcome to "Studio 3 LIVE."

I'm your host, Mickey Davis.

Tonight we welcome Andrew Hoyt to the stage.

The Des Moines-based singer-songwriter has made a name for himself in Central Iowa as a captivating performer, playing both guitar and ukulele.

Andrew has appeared at numerous festivals and venues around Iowa, most notably opening for AJR at Wells Fargo Arena in 2024.

Joined on stage today by a supporting cast of talented Central Iowa musicians, please help me welcome to the stage Andrew Hoyt.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Playing "Moody" ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Happy you're in my life ♪ ♪ I'm sad that you weren't before ♪ ♪ Excited about everything ♪ ♪ I'm no longer feeling bored ♪ ♪ You were a surprise ♪ ♪ Something I could not ignore ♪ ♪ Mm-mm-mm-mm, yeah ♪ ♪ Was worried and feeling down ♪ ♪ Until you came around ♪ ♪ Relaxed like my bags are packed ♪ ♪ I'm flying to Fiji now, oh, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm trying to find the word ♪ ♪ To explain somehow ♪ ♪ No, no, no ♪ ♪ You get me so moody ♪ ♪ Something about your smile just pulls me ♪ ♪ Simple yet effective, now look, see ♪ ♪ You get me so moody, yeah ♪ ♪ How many faces do I have to make ♪ ♪ Before you smirk and say my name that way?

♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm asking nicely, politely ♪ ♪ 'Cause you get me so moody ♪ ♪ Something about your smile just moves me ♪ ♪ Simple yet effective, now look, see ♪ ♪ You get me so moody ♪ ♪ No, no, no, no ♪ ♪ Caught up in your groovy ♪ ♪ Personality and your carefree ♪ ♪ Laughing, loving, living so sweetly ♪ ♪ You get me so moody, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're frustrating me ♪ ♪ How cute can someone be?

♪ ♪ I'm nervous even in bliss and then we kiss, honest ♪ ♪ You make all my sentiments heaven-sent ♪ ♪ You get me so moody ♪ ♪ It's something about your smile just moves me ♪ ♪ Simple yet effective, now look, see ♪ ♪ Oh, you get me so moody, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh, I'm caught in your groovy ♪ ♪ Personality and your carefree ♪ ♪ Laughing, loving, living so sweetly ♪ ♪ You get me so moody, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh, no-no-no-no ♪ ♪ Yeah, oh, no, no-no-no-no ♪ ♪ No-no-no, you get me so moody ♪ ♪ You get me so moody, yeah ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Andrew, thanks so much for being here.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

How did you really kind of get started performing as Andrew Hoyt, as both a solo act and with the band?

Yeah, my dad plays music and he plays drums.

So I was growing up with him playing drums for country bands and all sorts of rock bands and things, and so I'd go and see him play, and he's really talented.

He's my dad, so of course I'm gonna say that, but he truly is, like, one of the best drummers I know.

So, um, having him as a mentor and then also he songwrites, so he would, you know, talk about music in the car like it was a painting.

Like, he'd, like, talk about, "Oh, the symbols are saying this because of this line," or, "If you look back" -- he'll pause it and talk about it, which I found very, like, helpful to me as a musician today, 'cause I wouldn't have necessarily been able to, um, probably play at all, you know, if I didn't have that sort of upbringing.

So, um, I've been playing for about 12 years now in Des Moines, and recently I've expanded to, like, LA and New York and playing where my friends are 'cause I have all these artist friends, and we're all cousins in a way 'cause we all do the same thing but in different ways.

And we're all from, like, completely different places.

But I can fly somewhere and play a show and have friends out in different states, which is really cool to be able to crash at their place and play shows with them and play bills with them.

So I'm kind of getting into that world of just having, um, that community of people all over the place, not just in Des Moines.

Um, really awesome to be here.

Thanks to "3 LIVE" and Mickey, and I'm gonna play with a ton of people today.

So we've got three new people that came through from outside and joined us here um, through the doors there.

I'm super excited.

This next song is called "Kind of Paradise," and I went to Hawaii and I had apparently the best Mai Tai on the island is what they said it was on the menu, and I don't believe that, but it was pretty awesome.

And, um, I was like, man, I'm gonna write a song with this lyric in it, and this song is about my girlfriend and just kind of wrote about all wonderful, sunshiny vacation things with this song.

This is called "Kind of Paradise."

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I used to sit on the couch ♪ ♪ Daydreaming about ♪ ♪ Being anywhere else but here now ♪ ♪ And what I've done and who I'll be, yeah ♪ ♪ Then she came around, didn't know what I'd found ♪ ♪ Like the daylight breaking through the clouds, yeah ♪ ♪ She brightens my reality, oh, yeah ♪ ♪ So let's pack up and find a beach ♪ ♪ Or maybe not, no ♪ ♪ We could go to Mexico ♪ ♪ Or take a drive to the next town over ♪ ♪ She's a sunset on the shoreline ♪ ♪ She's a Mai Tai in my hand ♪ ♪ She's a warm breeze through the palm trees ♪ ♪ A diamond in the sand, yeah ♪ ♪ She's the one I've always dreamed of ♪ ♪ A good time with no end ♪ ♪ She's my kind of paradise ♪ ♪ And now we're doing it right ♪ ♪ Living on island time ♪ ♪ Not a worry and the days just float by, yeah ♪ ♪ And every hour spent with you, oh ♪ ♪ And now we're dreaming in the same dream ♪ ♪ Acting in the same scene ♪ ♪ Make me wanna sell off everything ♪ ♪ I wanna run away with you, yeah ♪ ♪ We could sail away ♪ ♪ She's a sunset on the shoreline ♪ ♪ She's a Mai Tai in my hand ♪ ♪ She's a warm breeze through the palm trees ♪ ♪ A diamond in the sand ♪ ♪ She's the one I've always dreamed of ♪ ♪ A good time with no end ♪ ♪ She's my kind of paradise ♪ ♪ Is it all in my head, am I imagining?

♪ ♪ Tell me what's true ♪ ♪ Do you feel the things I feel for you?

♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ She's a sunset on the shoreline ♪ ♪ She's a Mai Tai in my hand, yeah ♪ ♪ She's a warm breeze through the palm trees ♪ ♪ A diamond in the sand, yeah ♪ ♪ She's the one I've always dreamed of ♪ ♪ A good time with no end ♪ ♪ She's my kind of paradise ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ She's a sunset on the shoreline ♪ ♪ She's a Mai Tai in my hand ♪ ♪ She's a warm breeze through the palm trees ♪ ♪ A diamond in the sand ♪ ♪ She's the one I've always dreamed of ♪ ♪ A good time with no end ♪ ♪ My kind of paradise ♪ ♪ She's my kind of paradise ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, yeah ♪ ♪ You're my kind of paradise ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] So you talk about growing up with your dad as a musician.

Yeah.

Was it ever kind of an intentional choice for you to say, "All right, you know what?

I'm gonna -- I'm gonna follow music for a while.

I'm gonna see where this takes me"?

Or is that something you've kind of always had on your mind, that this is what you wanted to do?

It's kind of both.

I mean, as a -- in elementary school, like, I was walking around the playground and I'd hear music in my head, like, I'd hear guitar parts and things.

I didn't really know what they were exactly, but I could hear melodies and music, and I always wanted to have a guitar on stage, you know?

Um, but I didn't really take that leap until about two years ago.

And I was teaching elementary school music, K-5, for five years.

And I randomly one day was like, "You know what?

I think that I really want to pursue this music dream."

'Cause after school every day, I'd drive to a show.

Like, at 3:00 p.m., I'd drive to Iowa City or drive, you know, to Decorah or, you know, play at Toppling Goliath, or I'd play somebody's wedding or corporate thing.

And I was like, "I'm doing the math here, and I feel like I can do this music thing full-time if I had the whole day."

And I love the kids.

I love the students.

Like, they're so funny, and I never felt more like me than in the classroom where I just could be, like, fun and silly and play ukulele all day, sing all day, and like, hang out with awesome, wonderful kids, you know, like teach 700 kids a year.

And it was great.

But something in me was just -- has always called to doing music full-time, and I just never had the guts to do it, you know?

I always chose the safe route.

And I feel like in life we have the safe route, we have the risky route.

And I felt like the safe route just was too boring.

It just was not fitting what I wanted to see in 30 years.

You know, I could have that steady job that brings in same amount of money every month and that makes other people happy.

You know, I can make other people happy and do what -- you know, teaching is such a -- you know, it's a tough career.

But it's also, I feel like, a very good badge to have.

Like, "Wow, you're a teacher.

That's -- thank you for what you do."

And I had to lose that, too, you know?

And I was like, "Man, you know, I just gotta be true to myself."

And going for that felt pretty dumb.

[ Laughs ] But, uh, but it's been amazing.

And more opportunities have come my way because of that.

And I think, was it Lana Del Rey said, like, the minute she chose music to be, like, the thing and every other door she closed but music kept open, that's when things happened and you hear so many people talk about that.

It's like when you're intentional with your dream and go after it, um, things tend to come your way.

And so I'm very thankful that that has happened over this last two years.

[ Playing "Cloud 9" ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Woke up on the sand ♪ ♪ Breeze coming in, drink in my hand ♪ ♪ Everything's all right ♪ ♪ Mm, mm, yeah ♪ ♪ No sign of my phone ♪ ♪ Won't hear it ring, hold all my calls ♪ ♪ Tell them I'm offline ♪ ♪ I am ♪ ♪ Last thing I remember was the crash of the waves ♪ ♪ And landing on the next chill record to play ♪ ♪ Making no plans till the end of the day ♪ ♪ I'll be here ♪ ♪ Breathing in sunshine ♪ ♪ Swimming in blue skies ♪ ♪ Drinking in the good times ♪ ♪ I found my cloud nine ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Tiki bar is lit ♪ ♪ Everyone's dancing, flowery outfits into the evening ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Rum and soda, please ♪ ♪ Cut a pineapple, give it a squeeze ♪ ♪ Just what I needed, yeah ♪ ♪ Ah, ah ♪ ♪ One last dip while the sunset's fading ♪ ♪ Move to the rhythm of the palm trees swaying ♪ ♪ All night long hear the steel drums play till we wake up ♪ ♪ And we're breathing in sunshine ♪ ♪ Swimming in blue skies ♪ ♪ Drinking in the good times, oh ♪ ♪ I found my cloud nine ♪ ♪ I found my cloud nine ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ It's gonna feel all right ♪ ♪ Drifting away, paradise ♪ ♪ It's gonna feel all right, yeah ♪ ♪ It's gonna feel all right ♪ ♪ Drifting away in our minds ♪ ♪ It's gonna feel all right ♪ ♪ And we're breathing in sunshine, yeah ♪ ♪ Swimming in blue skies ♪ ♪ Skies ♪ ♪ We're drinking in the good times, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Breathing in sunshine, yeah ♪ ♪ Swimming in blue skies, yeah ♪ ♪ Skies, yeah ♪ ♪ Drinking in the good times, oh, yeah ♪ ♪ I found my cloud nine ♪ ♪ I found my cloud nine ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ It's gonna feel all right ♪ ♪ Drifting away, paradise ♪ ♪ It's gonna feel all right ♪ ♪ Yeah, no, no, no, no ♪ ♪ It's gonna feel all right ♪ ♪ Drifting away in our minds ♪ ♪ It's gonna feel all right ♪ ♪ It's gonna feel all right ♪ ♪ Drifting away, paradise ♪ ♪ It's gonna feel all right ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Can you tell me about the inspiration for the song "Caught in the Middle"?

Yeah, "Caught in the Middle," um, so I was really caught in the middle of a lot of things going on in my life, um, and with teaching, as well.

And it was a matter of, like, trying to figure out who I wanted to be.

Like, I -- I feel like we're all, you know, about self-development, but I was facing a time where I was really looking, you know, in the mirror, especially with starting music full-time.

Um, I was like, man, who do I want to be?

How do I want to do this music thing?

How can I be a better version of myself to be the most successful that I can be, whatever that looks like?

I don't really quite know exactly what it does.

Um, but I do know that there's so much more I want to do, like, with music.

And so it was also during a breakup, too, um, that I thought of that song.

And so, like, I had, you know, a black-and-white stock photo on my -- on my wall, and that's that lyric in there.

And it's a very like, honest, real song that I felt vulnerable to share.

Um, and I haven't been this honest in my music until this project.

And so it feels kind of embarrassing to, like, put all that out there, um, 'cause it feels very personal.

But, um, I was caught in the middle of, like, man, do I want this relationship?

Do I want to choose a different path for myself?

Because I know that I have a lot of things that I want to do better at.

Um, and I see a life for me that involves taking out the trash more often.

You know what I mean?

Yeah, yeah.

Like, just like being a better human, being a better -- and not that I was bad, but I just -- we all want a better life for ourselves.

And so leaving teaching and going to this music thing, I really had to look in the mirror and, like, decide, let's start off on a strong note, you know?

Mm-hmm.

♪ Alone in my apartment ♪ ♪ I'm wrestling with my thoughts and ♪ ♪ I'm caught between me and the person I wanna be ♪ ♪ Mm-hmm, yeah ♪ ♪ Got a problem, trying to solve it ♪ ♪ It's hanging on the wall, yeah ♪ ♪ A black-and-white stock photo of a dog with a family ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ If a broken heart ♪ ♪ Won't heal in the dark, yeah ♪ ♪ How far do you have to fall before the sunrise?

♪ ♪ I was up and you were down ♪ ♪ I was in and now you're out ♪ ♪ I'm drawing a line from my heart to my mind ♪ ♪ And I'm walking on a wire ♪ ♪ 'Cause we were right, so what went wrong?

♪ ♪ A bittersweet kinda song ♪ ♪ Can anybody help me solve this riddle?

♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm caught in the middle ♪ ♪ I'm caught in the middle, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm caught in the middle ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Open up the curtains ♪ ♪ I wonder what I'm searching for ♪ ♪ Is the answer ever certain?

No ♪ ♪ Is it worth walking out that door?

♪ ♪ And in my mind I see a picture-perfect harmony ♪ ♪ Feels so good, tastes so sweet ♪ ♪ Too bad it wasn't good for me ♪ ♪ And I was up and you were down ♪ ♪ And I was in and now you're out ♪ ♪ I'm drawing a line from my heart to my mind ♪ ♪ And I'm walking on a wire ♪ ♪ 'Cause we were right, so what went wrong?

♪ ♪ A bittersweet kinda song ♪ ♪ Can anybody help me solve this riddle?

♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm caught in the middle ♪ ♪ I'm caught in the middle ♪ ♪ I'm caught in the middle ♪ ♪ No, no, oh, yeah ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm caught in the middle ♪ ♪ I'm caught in the middle, oh ♪ ♪ Caught in the middle ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, mm, no ♪ ♪ Our love was a canvas ♪ ♪ Of hiccups and habits ♪ ♪ We painted outside the lines ♪ ♪ Went off the edges ♪ ♪ If I would've known sooner ♪ ♪ It would've ended last summer ♪ ♪ But there seemed like no other ♪ ♪ Wish there was another ♪ ♪ Way to your heart ♪ ♪ 'Cause I was up and you were down ♪ ♪ I was in and now you're out ♪ ♪ I'm drawing a line from my heart to my mind, yeah ♪ ♪ And I'm walking on that wire ♪ ♪ 'Cause we were right, what went wrong?

♪ ♪ A bittersweet kinda song ♪ ♪ Can anybody help me solve this riddle?

♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm caught in the middle, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm caught in the middle, oh ♪ ♪ Caught in the middle ♪ ♪ No, no, oh, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm caught in the middle, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm caught in the middle, oh ♪ ♪ Caught in the middle ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Where do I go from here?

♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thanks.

That's a fun groove.

All right, so this one's called "Perfect."

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ I've been thinking lately maybe we could run ♪ ♪ Fall asleep under the stars ♪ ♪ Waking up before the sun ♪ ♪ Catching little moments one wave at a time ♪ ♪ Caught up in the golden blue rays of the moonlight, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, no, it doesn't matter where we go, oh, no, yeah ♪ ♪ You pull me into your orbit ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, no ♪ ♪ 'Cause I really wanna be next to you ♪ ♪ We could get away, see somewhere new ♪ ♪ If it falls apart ♪ ♪ At least I'll be where you are, oh ♪ ♪ Take a rocket ship to outer space ♪ ♪ Far away from any time and place ♪ ♪ Promise that it's worth it ♪ ♪ Loving you is perfect ♪ ♪ Everything looks small when we're way up here ♪ ♪ Watching from the stars ♪ ♪ Getting lost in our atmosphere, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, when I hold you in my arms ♪ ♪ I can feel my heart beating ♪ ♪ No matter where we are ♪ ♪ We'll be dancing on the ceiling, yeah ♪ ♪ 'Cause I really wanna be next to you ♪ ♪ We could get away, see somewhere new ♪ ♪ If it falls apart ♪ ♪ At least I'll be where you are, oh ♪ ♪ Take a rocket ship to outer space ♪ ♪ Far away from any time and place ♪ ♪ Promise that it's worth it ♪ ♪ Loving you is perfect, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, loving you is perfect ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, oh ♪ ♪ Love it when I'm near you ♪ ♪ Making me feel brand-new ♪ ♪ Watching stars fall like the rain, ah ♪ ♪ Underneath the twilight ♪ ♪ Floating down in space time ♪ ♪ Make me fall all over again ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ 'Cause I really wanna be next to you ♪ ♪ And if it falls apart ♪ ♪ At least I'll be where you are ♪ ♪ Take a rocket ship to outer space now ♪ ♪ Far away from any time and place ♪ ♪ I promise that it's worth it ♪ ♪ Loving you is perfect, ah ♪ ♪ 'Cause I really wanna be next to you ♪ ♪ We could get away, see somewhere new ♪ ♪ If it falls apart ♪ ♪ At least I'll be where you are ♪ ♪ Take a rocket ship to outer space, no ♪ ♪ Far away from any time and place ♪ ♪ I promise that it's worth it ♪ ♪ Loving you is perfect ♪ ♪ So perfect ♪ ♪ So perfect, yeah ♪ ♪ You're perfect, no ♪ ♪♪ [ Band plays three quick notes ] [ Cheers and applause ] I should have said this earlier, but the last, like, ♪ Bum-bum-bum ♪ thing was a joke in the studio.

And I was like, "But let's do it."

So we did it.

Hopefully that was fun.

Man: Nailed it.

We nailed it.

It took -- It took at least 20 minutes to get that.

[ Laughter ] But it was totally worth it.

All right, this song is called "Postcard."

Um, it's about saying goodbye to stuff that you don't want to say goodbye to, and vacation and having to go home and pack your bags and get back to your regular life.

And so I wrote this about three different, separate things in my life that I had to say goodbye to.

And, um, you know, just you just keep moving on, and you keep doing your thing, and, um, there's always vacation in the future, right?

So, um, this is called "Postcard."

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Look out, here comes the moon ♪ ♪ There's sand in our shoes ♪ ♪ And the campfire's low ♪ ♪ World turns over again ♪ ♪ The tide's coming in ♪ ♪ And the air is cold, oh ♪ ♪ Last few hugs and high-fives ♪ ♪ Packed up for the car ride ♪ ♪ Take in one last look before you go ♪ ♪ Late night watching a movie ♪ ♪ Finding your hand ♪ ♪ In the popcorn bowl, yeah ♪ ♪ Halfway paying attention ♪ ♪ Tangled with you ♪ ♪ Till the credits roll ♪ ♪ Hanging backyard string lights ♪ ♪ And dancing with the fireflies ♪ ♪ Constellations putting on a show ♪ ♪ This'll all be just a memory before you know ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ There's no rewind ♪ ♪ No, can't just freeze time ♪ ♪ Trust me, I've tried ♪ ♪♪ ♪ That's my train pulling in ♪ ♪ When I get there I'll send you a postcard ♪ ♪ Could be a new start, yeah ♪ ♪ So wipe those tears from your eyes ♪ ♪ And kiss what once was goodbye ♪ ♪ And take in one last look before you go ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ This'll all be just a memory ♪ ♪ Before you know ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

So when you took that kind of leap of faith, that act to -- to kind of look at that one open door and say, "This is the one I'm going for," um, you know, I'm curious.

I think a lot of people who are watching the show who might not be involved in -- in this world would want to know, like, what does it mean to be a full-time musician?

You know, what are kind of all the different hats you wear?

What are the different things you do to make this work?

Yeah, it means that you're all of a sudden flying to Pennsylvania for a show at -- in Hershey, you know, so you're playing at Hershey Lodge, and, um, that's what I did a couple weeks ago.

You know, all of a sudden I, you know, get a last-minute call to open for AJR, um, [chuckles] which I hate to, like -- I feel like the band, they're always like, "Dude, you always talk about that.

Oh, my God."

Like, when I'm playing on stage, so.

Um, it's, like -- it's a lot of different things.

You're on, you know, a bus, um, somewhere to a venue.

You're, um, practicing for a show that night.

You're packing for a tour that you have in LA.

Like, I got to play a few shows in LA, um, for this, like, rooftop-session thing.

And then played in New York for Sofar Sounds, which are intimate concerts that you don't know the musicians till like 24 hours before, but you know that, um, but just so people know.

But it's, uh -- it's incredible.

Like, it's -- every day is different.

I never know if I'm gonna be sleeping in my bed or if I'm sleeping, like, four states away.

Yeah.

Um, if there's a blizzard that comes through and I have to drive instead or something.

So there's all these things that it could mean or could be.

And there's not one title.

I don't wake up and say, "All right, every morning I'm, you know, wake up and I do this and that."

It's truly different.

This next one's called "Love to Rust."

I got to open up for AJR a year ago, and I think now is the time where I can't talk about it anymore because it was a year ago, so I gotta be done.

But I feel like all these guys that I've played with, they're always like, "Oh, dude, AJR, man.

We know, okay?

We get it.

Yeah."

But, um, I got to play this there and everybody put up their phone lights and it was really cool to have a song out of heartbreak, you know, happen to be a beautiful thing, you know?

Like, just to see all these people singing along with me, and I didn't know that would happen when I wrote it, you know?

So it means a lot to write songs and people appreciate.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Thought I saw a shooting star ♪ ♪ But I must have tricked my brain ♪ ♪ 'Cause I wished on an aeroplane ♪ ♪ So I'm reaching for the moon, yeah ♪ ♪ 'Cause every miracle I've seen ♪ ♪ People continue to believe ♪ ♪ Is it just me, yeah?

♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ I'm hallucinating ♪ ♪ Losing all my patience ♪ ♪ Thinking of you too much ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah ♪ ♪ Grasping onto thin air ♪ ♪ Breathing but I'm not here ♪ ♪ I'm thinking of you too much ♪ ♪ I'm thinking of you too much ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ My world was pink and rose, oh ♪ ♪ Slow dancing the sunset sky like I wish we were tonight ♪ ♪ Do you think that there's magic still?

Oh ♪ ♪ Thought it was pixie dust ♪ ♪ But the rain turned love to rust ♪ ♪ What do you think, yeah?

♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ I'm hallucinating ♪ ♪ Losing all my patience ♪ ♪ I'm thinking of you too much ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Grasping onto thin air ♪ ♪ Breathing but I'm not here ♪ ♪ I'm thinking of you too much ♪ ♪ I'm thinking of you too much ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh, oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh, yeah ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ I'm hallucinating ♪ ♪ Losing all my patience ♪ ♪ I'm thinking of you too much ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah ♪ ♪ Grasping onto thin air ♪ ♪ Breathing but I'm not here ♪ ♪ I'm thinking of you too much ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm thinking of you too much ♪ ♪ I'm thinking of you too much ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm thinking of you too much ♪ ♪ Thinking of you too much ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm thinking of you too much, yeah ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Particularly when you're performing original music, what -- where do you draw inspiration for your songwriting, in -- in kind of writing things that you hope will connect to the audience you're performing to?

Yeah, I think a lot of it's Jason Ross, Jack Johnson.

I didn't fall in love with James Taylor until I had a breakup in college.

Like, I drove away from the -- girl and I just broke up, and I was driving in my brother's car, which used to be my car, but he had a James Taylor CD in there, "Greatest Hits."

And I used to like, hate, like, that '80s, like, kind of music.

And I was like, "Oh, man, this is amazing."

And so I fell in love with James Taylor at that moment, which was very, like, one of -- I feel like my... what I aspire to be.

But when I'm writing and playing, I don't really think about all that.

I mean, I love John Mayer.

Um, it just kind of comes -- comes out of me of, you know, what I'm listening to or what I'm, you know, inspired by, but I don't sit down and go, "Man, I want to sound like this person right now," which makes it harder... Yeah.

...because I don't really know how I'm supposed to act on stage or, like -- so I just try to be me, but I don't know if I know quite yet what that is, you know?

[ Playing "Better Half" ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Tell me what's on your mind ♪ ♪ Is it me that you find ♪ ♪ Stuck in there?

♪ ♪ 'Cause I was unaware ♪ ♪ I'd put my heart on the line ♪ ♪ But if you met yours with mine ♪ ♪ 'Cause we could share ♪ ♪ We'd be the perfect pair ♪ ♪ 'Cause I just wanna be your better half ♪ ♪ And always put you first, I got your back ♪ ♪ One and one makes two ♪ ♪ And everything you do I wanna do with you ♪ ♪ I finally found what could complete ♪ ♪ This empty space inside of me, yeah ♪ ♪ You're everything I lack ♪ ♪ So show me how to be your better half ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, of all the fish under the sea ♪ ♪ You reeled me in and set me free, yeah ♪ ♪ Thanking my lucky stars, oh ♪ ♪ I'm over the moon, shot to Mars ♪ ♪ I think you're my A-to-Z ♪ ♪ Everything that I could ever need, oh ♪ ♪ We feel it now, we both know ♪ ♪ Where this is really going ♪ ♪ 'Cause I just wanna be your better half ♪ ♪ And always put you first, I got your back ♪ ♪ One and one makes two ♪ ♪ And everything you do I wanna do with you, yeah ♪ ♪ Finally found what could complete ♪ ♪ This empty space inside of me, yeah ♪ ♪ You're everything I lack ♪ ♪ So show me how to be your better half ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, na-na-na-na-na, no ♪ ♪ Na-na-na-na-na, no ♪ ♪ Na-na-na-na-na, no ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, na-na-na-na-na, no ♪ ♪ Na-na-na-na-na, no, yeah ♪ ♪ 'Cause I just wanna be your better half ♪ ♪ And always put you first, I got your back ♪ ♪ One and one makes two ♪ ♪ And everything you do I wanna do with you, yeah ♪ ♪ Finally found what could complete ♪ ♪ This empty space inside of me, yeah ♪ ♪ You're everything I lack ♪ ♪ So show me how to be your better half ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ So show me how to be your better half, yeah ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Uh, can you tell me about the song "Lucky Duck"?

Yeah, that's, like, one of my original songs from -- I wrote that at Wartburg College.

Okay.

So one of my, like, um, way-back-when kind of songs and one that we stick with in all our sets, too.

Can you remember in that moment of your life what that song was about, or what inspired you to write that song?

Yeah, there's a girl, uh... in that one, uh, homecoming queen.

Okay.

And she was, like, senior.

Like, I was a freshman.

They were, like, "No way."

But I was -- I was like, "Man, she's really cool."

And so I came up with that riff and, um, that -- so that was about her.

I don't even know what her name was or anything, but 'cause I never talked to her.

But, um, uh, it was a freshman year of college, and I was very inspired to, like, write a cool riff.

And so after, like, she was crowned homecoming queen, I was like, "Ah, I'm gonna write the song."

So that's kind of where it came out, but yeah.

The, uh -- the memory of the name lasts a lot shorter than the continuing to play the song.

I guess so, yeah.

Yes, yes.

[ Playing "Lucky Duck" ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, there's this thing about you ♪ ♪ You get me into this groove ♪ ♪ You're making my heart sing, baby, baby ♪ ♪ There's this thing that you do ♪ ♪ Make me talk to you ♪ ♪ You cover up this room, baby, baby ♪ ♪ My game needs some serious work ♪ ♪ Conversation anything but good ♪ ♪ Yeah, she thinks that I can talk it well ♪ ♪ That might be but she's got everything I don't ♪ ♪ I wanna, wanna, wanna be, be your man ♪ ♪ I wanna, wanna, wanna be, be your shoulder ♪ ♪ I wanna, wanna, wanna be, be your ♪ ♪ I'm really starting to believe that I'm ♪ ♪ Never gonna be your lucky duck ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ There's this thing that you do ♪ ♪ Make me talk to you ♪ ♪ You color up this room, yeah ♪ ♪ There's this thing that you do ♪ ♪ Make me talk to you, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ My game needs some serious work ♪ ♪ Conversation anything but good, no, no, no ♪ ♪ She thinks that I can talk it well ♪ ♪ Well, that might be but she's got everything I don't ♪ ♪ Oh, I wanna, wanna, wanna be, be your man ♪ ♪ I wanna, wanna, wanna be, be your shoulder ♪ ♪ I wanna, wanna, wanna be, be your ♪ ♪ I'm really starting to believe that I'm ♪ ♪ Never gonna be your lucky duck ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Well, Andrew, thank you so much for being here.

Thank you so much for being part of "Studio 3 LIVE."

Thank you, Mickey.

Thanks for having me.

Thank you, Mickey.

Thanks for having me.

Well, we're gonna end with a classic.

Um, this is called "Sunsets and Sunrises."

I always love to end with this one 'cause it's very happy, poppy song.

[ Playing "Sunsets and Sunrises" ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Missing everything about you ♪ ♪ I'm wishing I had arms around you ♪ ♪ I'm talking about the things that we do ♪ ♪ I'm wondering if you're missing it, too ♪ ♪ I was on the block where I dropped you off ♪ ♪ It's sad that we had to call it off ♪ ♪ Nowhere to be seen again, no, no ♪ ♪ What if we were more than friends?

♪ ♪ 'Cause we could do ♪ ♪ Something new, sleeping through ♪ ♪ Sunsets and sunrises ♪ ♪ Who better than me and you?

♪ ♪ We'll open up champagne, dancing with the moon ♪ ♪ A beautiful mind ♪ ♪ A wonderful time with you looking in your baby blues ♪ ♪ Something new, sleeping through ♪ ♪ Sunsets and sunrises ♪ ♪ I'm thinking about the love we could be giving ♪ ♪ What if it was me you were kissing?

♪ ♪ Well, guess I'm just a boy with a vision ♪ ♪ And hoping that I'm still not mistaken ♪ ♪ 'Cause if you felt the same about me, yeah ♪ ♪ We could take it back when we ♪ ♪ Almost had forever ♪ ♪ Hand in hand together, let's change the weather ♪ ♪ Something new, sleeping through ♪ ♪ Sunsets and sunrises ♪ ♪ Who better than me and you?

♪ ♪ We'll open up champagne, dancing with the moon ♪ ♪ A beautiful mind ♪ ♪ A wonderful time with you looking in your baby blues ♪ ♪ Something new, sleeping through ♪ ♪ Sunsets and sunrises ♪ All right, this next part, I'm gonna teach you a part right here.

It goes like this.

♪ Da-da, da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da-yeah ♪ ♪ Da-da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da ♪ You got that?

Ready?

♪ Da-da, da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da-yeah ♪ ♪ Da-da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da ♪ All right.

♪ Something new, sleeping through ♪ ♪ Sunsets and sunrises ♪ ♪ Who better than me and you?

♪ ♪ We'll open up champagne, dancing with the moon ♪ ♪ A beautiful mind ♪ ♪ A wonderful time with you looking in your baby blues ♪ ♪ Something new, sleeping through ♪ ♪ Sunsets and sunrises ♪ Thank you, Iowa PBS.

Thank you all for coming out.

Thanks, Des Moines.

Thanks, Iowa.

Thank you so much.

[ Applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Davis: "Studio 3 LIVE" is also available as a podcast.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

Drive safe.

Davis: Funding for "Studio 3 LIVE" is provided by... Announcer: Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, where employees from over 20 countries speak over 20 languages, is committed to enriching the lives of all Iowans by funding strong communities and diverse cultural organizations.

Learn more at prairiemeadows.com.

Announcer #2: Funding for this program was provided by Friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of families and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.

Davis: Next time on "Studio 3 LIVE," we welcome Andrew Hoyt to the stage.

♪ She's a sunset on the shoreline ♪ ♪ She's a Mai Tai in my hand ♪ And I feel like in life we have the safe route, we have the risky route.

And I felt like the safe route just was too boring.

It just was not fitting what I wanted to see in 30 years.

♪ A good time with no end ♪ ♪ She's my kind of paradise ♪